Who Are Christian Nationalists and What Do They Believe

Christian Nationalism has become a significant force in American public life, shaping attitudes about national identity, political authority, and the role of Christianity in the state. It is not a denomination or a church but an ideological framework that blends religious conviction with a particular vision of American nationhood. National survey data show that 29% of Americans fall into the categories of Christian Nationalism Adherents or Sympathizers, a proportion that has remained stable in recent years. This makes Christian Nationalism a mass‑scale identity movement rather than a fringe phenomenon.

At the core of Christian Nationalism is a set of theological and political claims about the nature of the United States. Supporters believe that America was founded as a Christian nation, that its laws and institutions should reflect Christian values, and that the country’s future depends on maintaining its Christian character. These convictions are expressed through five recurring themes: that God has called Christians to exercise authority over all areas of American society; that the government should formally declare the United States a Christian nation; that being Christian is essential to being “truly American”; that the nation will fail if it abandons its Christian foundations; and that U.S. laws should be based on Christian teachings. Together, these beliefs form a political theology in which Christian identity is the foundation of legitimate political authority.

This worldview carries a clear implication for political leadership. Because Christian Nationalists define the United States as a Christian nation whose institutions should reflect Christian teachings, they regard Christians as the rightful holders of political authority at every level of government. Within this framework, non‑Christian officeholders — whether county commissioners, school board members, state legislators, senators, or presidents — are viewed as inherently less legitimate. This belief does not necessarily translate into support for legal restrictions on who may hold office, but it shapes expectations about who should be elected and who is considered a proper representative of the nation’s identity and values.

Christian Nationalism is strongest among certain religious groups but extends across multiple traditions. White evangelical Protestants show the highest levels of support, with roughly two‑thirds qualifying as Adherents or Sympathizers. Hispanic........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)